Undergarment



June 19, 1928.

o. B. OLMSTEAD UNDEBGARMENT Filed 001,. 16, 1926 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

0220 film-Shad,

Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

one B. OLMSTEAD, or SPRINGFIELD, MAssA'cHusnr'rs, nssrenon ro QLMSTEAD con- PORATION, F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, a CORPORATION or MASSACHIL SETTS.

UN DERGARMENT.

I This invention relates to improvements in undergarments and particularly to improvements in the boning construction of corsets, girdles, brassieres, or a combination of these garments. Heretofore it has been a common practice to locate and arrange the bones vertically, horizontally, or diagonally in continuous strips which produces a structure that is very stiif and uncomfortable to the wearer.

The present invention is designed to overcome these objections and comprises, in general, two series of parallel arranged bones or stiffening members, which do not extend in continuous strips across the boned part of the garment, or across each other, but are arranged in such a manner that the series of bones terminate in proximity to and adjacent the side edges of the adjacent bone, whereby the garment will yield readily in any direction thus conforming to the shape of the wearer as well as being comfortable.

It has also been a practice to arrange the bones at angles to each other which overlap and cross each other. This is objectional as a support since the structure does not readily yield in all directions. It is not comfortable to the wearer since it produces hard and unyieldable portions where the bones or stiffening members extend across each other. The present improvement however is confined to the arrangement of the bones in the supporting part of the garment.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the improvement which is embodied in a combined corset and brassiere or what is known in the trade as a corselet.

Fig. 2.is an enlarged detail view of the supporting portion of the garment showing the arrangement of the boning construction, and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the arrangement of the bones considered as being removed from the structure.

Referring to the drawings in detail:

1 designates the main portion of the garment; 2 is the supporting portion of the garment which is secured to the main portion as indicated by the line of stitching at 3. It is formed with the gore portions 4 and the front fabric construction 5 in which the improved honing construction is placed. 6 designates the detachable portion of the part 2 which is secured to the main portion 1 indicated at 10 and 11 and supporting straps 12. 1 I

Referring more particularly to the present improvement. The fabric portion 5 is formed with a series of pockets 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 which are arranged as shown substantially at right angles to each other. The pocket 13 terminates at the point 19; the pocket 14.- at 20; the pocket 15 at 21; the pocket 16 at 22; the pocket 17 at 23; and the pocket 18 at 24. Located in each of these respective pockets are the bones 25, 26, 7, 28, 29, and 30 as shown. I

It will be observed from the description and drawings, that the bones do not cross each other, with the result thata very yieldable and flexible restraining structure is provided which readily conforms to the bodily movements of the wearer and still gives the proper restraining support.

It is to be understood that this improvement in the boning construction is not limited to use in the garment shown nor in the particular position or location as Shown in the garment illustrated; but may also be used in girdles, corsets, brassieres, or a combination of a corset and brassiere.

It is further understood that I do not limit myself to the actual parallel arrangement of the bones as shown, as other arrangements are clearly possible in which the bones do not cross each other.

The arrangement of the bones shown is such that they may be considered as two Series, each having their inner ends terminating adjacent the side edges of the other series which in effect, produces a hinge effect substantially along the vertical center of the fabric, as Shown.

It will be observed from Fig. 3 that the end of the bone 32 terminates at or near the side of an adjacent bone 31.

It will be observed that the lower ends of are Vertical and parallel to each other,

whereby substantially a double hinge effect is produced.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. A boning construction for corset construction for undergarments comprising a front supplemental abdominal supporting fabric member which is attached to the back portion of the main part of the undergarment at. one edge, said member being formed with two oppositely disposed vertical rows of pockets, the respective pockets of each row at one end terminating adjacent the side and spaced from the end of the respective pockets of the other row.

2. In a garment of the kind described, the center portion of which constitutes an abdominal support that is formed with two series of inclined stilfening members, a supplemental fabric attached to the body part of the garment and having pockets in which said inclined members are located the ends of each of the two series of pockets terminating adjacent the sides and spaced from the ends of the other series of pockets,

whereby the supplemental fabric may yield readily in all directions.

3. An article of manufacture an undergarment construction comprising a main body member, means for connecting the same together for securing it to the wearer, a supplemental front supporting :fabric piece member having one of its edges secured to the main body member and its opposite side edge having fastening devices, a llap secured to the main body men'iber and having fastening devices which cooperate with said fastening devices of the supplemental supporting fabric the supplemental fabric meniher having two series of diagonally and parallel arranged pockets, the pockets of each of the series extending past the lower ends of the pockets of the other series but not connected thereto, stillcuing members in the pockets, the lower ends of each series of pockets being in vertical lines, whereby a hinge ellect is produced to permit the suppleniental support to yield or bend in accordance with the movements of the wearer, and insert gore pieces located on the opposite sides of the series of stifiening members.

OTTO B. OLMSTEAD. 

